Incoming City Council President Chrisopher Keefe predicts the Westfield budget will command most of the council's attention

Republican file photoWestfield City Councilor Christopher Keefe is set to become council president on Jan. 6

WESTFIELD – Newly elected City Council president Christopher Keefe sees municipal finances as priorities with the start of 2011.

Keefe, who will officially take the president’s seat at the council’s Jan. 6 meeting, said preparation of the city’s fiscal 2012 budget, for the year beginning July 1, will occupy much of the council’s attention during the first few months of the new year.

Keefe also wants to address quickly free cash, some $3.7 million available for municipal use.

Keefe succeeds veteran Councilor Brian P. Sullivan.

“The budget for next year will be a big issue because of financial constraints during the past few years,” said Keefe. “The council will work with Mayor Daniel M. Knapik to address the city’s financial needs.”

As for free cash, Knapik has already said he will ask the council to allocate most of it to the city’s stabilization fund. The mayor also plans to seek approval to spend some free cash on school maintenance and repair needs and to assist in the ongoing effort to rid the downtown of blight.

Keefe, who has represented Ward 1 since 2008, said he is asking individual councilors for priority issues that might require the use of free cash.

He said he will seek a meeting within he next few weeks with the full council and mayor to set priorities for free cash.

As president, Keefe is responsible to assign councilors to standing committees.

He has listed one new committee, Charter and Rules, which will review existing council rules as well as City Charter issues. Assigned to that committee are veteran councilors Mary L. O’Connell as chairman, assisted by Brent B. Bean II and Sullivan.

“There are enough motions on the floor concerning new and old rules and charter issues,” said Keefe. “This will be an ad hoc committee, meaning it will end at some time in the future,” the president said.

Keefe has also restored the Business Development Committee, absent for several years, that provides an avenue for the Westfield business community to have access to the City Council.

That committee will be chaired by veteran Councilor Christopher M. Crean with assistance by freshmen councilors David A. Flaherty and John J. Beltrandi III.